ROI’s Meet the Team Series is meant to showcase some of our exceptional team members and share in their passion for all things economic development. We also have a little bit of fun to help you get to know the ROI Team more personally.
We’re thrilled to introduce you to Paulo Magalhaes. ROI is fortunate to have Paulo as part of our team considering he came to us with a wealth of foreign investment expertise, along with working with world-class international banks and companies. We especially appreciate his enthusiasm for just about everything, as well as his thirst for knowledge. Find out how Paulo’s passion for economic development followed him from Brazil all the way to Canada.
Can you tell us more about yourself and how you discovered the world of economic development?
I was born in Brazil and worked in banking and investment. My family and I moved to Montreal more than twelve years ago to work for a Canadian bank managing foreign investors’ accounts. While working at the new job, I engaged with multiple economic development organizations, to build my network, later joining the board of the Latin American Chamber of Commerce of Quebec, where I experienced firsthand the impact of economic development and the importance of a dynamic business support network. Then, a couple of years later, I took on the challenge of setting up the new Promotion Offices for the Consulate General of Brazil for the Quebec & Atlantic Canada provinces, to foster bilateral trade and foreign direct investments.
What is your role here at ROI?
As an Economic Development Manager, I am responsible for ensuring project success and deliverables to our clients, managing contracts, and coordinating a few lead generation and research teams. I also work as part of research and consulting teams identifying expanding global companies and qualifying direct investment projects.
What trends are you seeing in the world of economic development? What are clients looking for?
Technology disruption is a key trend, with surging novel applications, new markets, and business challenges. The pandemic further complicated matters and hindered global supply chains among many other things. Clients are targeting traditional and new sectors using digital tools and specialized services to leverage their portfolios and elevate their region’s value proposition.
What does economic development mean to you?
A company’s bottom line is its shareholders’ wealth. The bottom line for economic development is collective happiness. People living better, getting better jobs, gaining new skills, companies and tax revenues growing, are all interconnected. Successful economic development initiatives work like gears do in many ways. Economic development relies on the support of the public sector, where businesses and people mutually work and support each other’s growth.
If there was one thing you wish everyone knew about economic development, what would it be?
I like to think that we all somehow work in economic development. I wish everyone would learn how your Economic Development organization interacts with your community, how many jobs it creates, what innovations it developed, what impacts it has, etc. Anyone can do this and it is a great way to get engaged either at work or within your community.
Do you have an inspirational quote you enjoy?
“If we want things to stay as they are, things will have to change.” – The Leopard, by Giuseppe di Lampedusa
What’s the one song you can play on repeat all day long?
So many great songs, different styles, old & new stuff. It’s impossible to choose only one, so I will go with two: Pride & Joy by Stevie Ray Vaughn and Panis et Circenses (Os Mutantes)
What trend do you hope makes a comeback?
Definitely, Brazil winning the World Cup, and The Habs, winning the Stanley Cup!
If you could compare yourself to an animal, what would it be and why?
I like the way wolves live, in socially organized packs, and how they hunt strategically and in teams.
Favorite dessert?
Again, many possible answers! I’d say chocolate mousse is on my top-three list!